University of Waterloo

How Waterloo actually handles things

From the OUAC’s Guidance Dialogues Resource Guide (Spring 2026), which OUAC publishes for guidance counsellors rather than students. Read the original. Policies change — confirm anything you’re about to act on.

If you repeat a course

Which mark they use when you take a course twice.

We will consider each case individually. www.uwaterloo.ca/future/repeated-courses

Summer school, night school, e-learning and private school

Whether courses taken outside your regular day school are treated the same.

We accept all approved courses through schools accredited by the Ministry of Education.

Once students have applied, we may ask them to identify courses they have taken or are taking outside of regular day school and to explain why. Taking required courses in summer school could negatively affect a student's application to some programs. www.uwaterloo.ca/future/repeated-courses

Your Grade 11 marks

Whether they look at Grade 11, and when.

We may consider 3U/M grades for early offers to some programs. • Architecture: In early March, we will review both 3U/M and 4U/M grades to determine selection for the Architecture interview process. Grade 11 grades are used when we are missing a Grade 12 required course grade. | www.uwaterloo.ca/architecture/ future-undergraduate-students Supplemental Application

We require an Admission Information Form (AIF) for certain programs. | https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/ admissions/admission-information-form#programs

For Software Engineering, an online video interview is required and is strongly recommended for all other engineering programs.

Some programs require additional supplemental applications. www.uwaterloo.ca/future/admissions/admission-requirements Ranking on OUAC Application

We do not review application ranking when making admission decisions. Students will receive an admission decision for every Waterloo program they apply to. Tuition Deposit

Tuition deposit not required. However, students requiring an attestation letter will need to pay a $5,000 deposit. www.uwaterloo.ca/future/international-students/visas

Automatic entrance scholarships

Money you get for your average without applying for it.

NEW! International fee-paying students admitted to full-time, first-year degree studies starting September 2026 will receive $10,000 for their first-year studies. No application is required: https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/financing/ international-scholarships

Students with an admission average of 85% or higher are eligible for scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $2,000. We calculate this average using the top six 4U/M or equivalent courses, including each of the required courses for the program(s) of admission. www.uwaterloo.ca/future/financing/scholarships

If a student's final grades are higher than their mid-May grades, we will upgrade their scholarship(s). We do not downgrade or cancel entrance scholarship offers based on final grades, provided the student fulfills all conditions on their offer of admission.

Scholarship deadlines

https://uwaterloo.ca/future-students/financing/scholarships

Bursaries

Each year we award Waterloo Entrance Bursaries, valued from $1,000 to $5,000, to Ontario students with demonstrated financial need who are entering their first year of postsecondary studies.

April 15, 2026, is the application deadline. www.uwaterloo.ca/future/financing/bursaries

Special consideration

If something happened that affected your marks.

Students with significant circumstances that affected their marks and who were not accommodated through their school or relevant services can request special consideration for admission. www.uwaterloo.ca/future/applicants/special-consideration Summer/Night School, Virtual/e-learning, Private School and Correspondence Courses

We accept all approved courses through schools accredited by the Ministry of Education.

Once students have applied, we may ask them to identify courses they took or are taking outside of regular day school and to explain why. Taking required courses in summer school could negatively affect a student's application to some programs. www.uwaterloo.ca/future/admissions/repeated-courses

Deferring your offer

Taking a year before you start.

Students may request a deferral of their admission for up to 1 full year. | www.uwaterloo.ca/future/defer

AP and IB

AP: We will consider granting transfer credit for courses with a minimum final grade of 4. The number of credits varies depending on the program.

IB: We will consider granting transfer credit for individual certificate or diploma Higher Level courses with a minimum final grade of 5.

The number of credits varies depending on the program. www.uwaterloo.ca/future/transfer-credits

Changing programs

Environment: Geomatics name changed to Geospatial Data Science • Arts: Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Studies name changed to Sexualities, Relationships, and Families. Religious Studies name changed to Religion, Culture, and Spirituality. • Math: Applied Mathematics with Scientific Computing name changed to Applied Mathematics with Scientific Computing and Scientific Machine Learning. • Environment: The Knowledge Integration undergraduate program is pausing admissions for 2026. • Students can no longer co-register with Renison University College and the main Waterloo campus.

Transfer credit

www.uwaterloo.ca/future/transfer-credits

English proficiency

Accepted tests and required scores: www.uwaterloo.ca/future/elr.